HIIT: The 4 Pros And Cons Of High Intensity Training

If you’ve been on the internet for the past year, you’ve definitely seen the word HIIT thrown around multiple times. What is it? Allow us to enlighten you! High-intensity interval training or HIIT is a form of an interval training exercise. It consists of a number of rounds that alternate between long stretches of high-intensity activity. They raise the heart rate to at least 80% of one’s maximal heart rate and short bursts of lower-intensity exercise. Sprint interval training, a more intense form of interval training reaches 100% of the maximal heart rate. It was used to enhance the performance of elite Olympic athletes and was first introduced in the 1950s.

HIIT seems to be the perfect workout, doesn’t it? Sorry to break it to you, but it’s actually not. Believe it or not, it also has its downsides. Here are the pros and cons of HIIT so that you can decide for yourself, whether this workout works out for you or not! (pun intended)

Pros of HIIT
- Boosts your Metabolism
- Time Efficient
- Can be done anywhere
- Muscle Retention
Cons of HIIT
- Higher risk of injury
- Sore Muscles
- Not Suitable for Everyone
- Makes you Dizzy

Pros of HIIT

Boosts your metabolism

The human growth hormone can be stimulated up to 450% more after HIIT, which also increases metabolism.

Exercise in General is known to boost your metabolism. (Source- Pixabay)

Time Efficient

Because these workouts are so brief, they are ideal for people who have busy schedules. Even if you might not have time to get to the gym, a brief HIIT exercise is simpler to fit into a busy day.

Getting a few minutes of exercise in goes a long way. (Source- Pixabay)

Can be done anywhere

HIIT workouts are perfect for folks with busy schedules because they are so brief. Even if you don’t have time to get to the gym, you can still fit in a quick workout throughout a hectic day.

People prefer HIIT because of its flexibility. (Source- Pixabay)

Muscle Retention

Hardcore gym visitors frequently steer clear of cardio since they do not want to lose muscle. Because HIIT can incorporate exercises that similarly engage the muscles to strength training, it aids in muscular retention.

HIIT helps in muscle retention. (Source- Pixabay)

Cons of HIIT

Higher Risk of Injury

You move significantly more quickly, which frequently leads to you losing the correct form for several activities. Because you might easily perform an exercise incorrectly and cause an injury, it’s important to make sure you hold the perfect form, stretch before and after the workout, and pay attention to your body.

Overworking yourself can cause long-term or permanent injury. (Source- Pixabay)

Sore Muscles

The majority of exercises will leave you sore, especially if you didn’t stretch properly or recently worked out. However, because this training is so intense, you frequently use different muscles than you would with low-intensity activities. Additionally, you run the danger of injuring your muscles if you overexert yourself.

Make sure to warm up before exercising. (Source- Pixabay)

Not Suitable for everyone

Due to the intensity of HIIT exercise, you should already be at a baseline level of fitness. If not, you risk putting your heart and body under excessive stress.

Makes you Dizzy

When performing HIIT, you frequently alternate between sitting and standing at a pace that causes your blood pressure to drop quickly, which might occasionally make you feel lightheaded. If you do, either stop exercising until you are ready to resume or switch to a low-intensity routine.